The Navy has reaffirmed its opposition to giving promotional boards access to photographs of applicants after comments from Vice Adm. John Nowell Jr., the chief of naval personnel, triggered speculation that changes were in the works.

Then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper decided to mandate the Department of Defense no longer use the photographs in an attempt to eliminate “discrimination, prejudice, and bias in all ranks” last summer, though Nowell said last month that the Navy “should consider reinstating photos in selection boards.”